Not far into The Life, Old Age, and Death of a Working-Class Woman, Didier Eribon quotes from this balladesque 1980 track by the French singer-songwriter Jean Ferrat:
We have to be reasonable
You can’t go on living like this
Alone if you fell sick
We would be so worried
You’ll see, you’ll be happy there
We’ll sort through your affairs
Find the photos you love
It’s strange that a whole life
Can be held in one hand
With the other residents
You’ll find lots to talk about
There’s a TV in your room
A pretty garden downstairs
With roses that bloom
In December as in June
You’ll see, you’ll be happy there
Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it
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